Arm rest and storage receptacle



Sept. 17, 1963 I M. KRONE 3,104,131

ARM REST AND STORAGE RECEPTACLE Filed March 15, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet lINVENTOR.

Sept. 17, 1963 M. KRONE ARM REST AND STORAGE RECEPTACLE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2Filed March 15 1962 FIG.

Afi'dE/Vf Y8 United States Patent ice 3,104,131 ARM REST AND ETGRAGERECEPTACLE Martin Krone, 60 E. 42nd St, New York, ELY. Filed Mar. 13,1962, Ser. No. 179,369 6 Claims. (El. 297-414) The present inventionrelates to an arm rest and storage compartment and in particular to aportable arm rest which is provided with storage facilities.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an arm rest for theseats of an automobile or the like which can be installed or placed inposition without the necessity of making any alterations whatsoever tothe seat structure, and which can be readily removed from its operativedisposition on the seat as may be desired.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an arm restof the described type which can be utilized either as a fixed or aportable storage compartment or receptacle.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an arm rest of thedescribed type which can be manufactured from relatively inexpensivematerial and sold at a relatively low price and which will have a longand useful life.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide an armrest of the described type which is relatively simple and integral inconstruction and yet which is highly eflicient for its intendedutilization.

Other and further objects and advantages of the present invention willbe readily apparent to one skilled in the art from a consideration ofthe following specifications taken in connection with the appendeddrawings.

In the drawings which illustrate the best mode presently contemplatedfor carrying out the invention;

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of an arm rest pursuant to the presentinvention, the arm rest being shown in its open position for access tothe storage compartment or compartments thereof;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevation view of the arm rest;

FIGURE 3 is a cross-sectional view of the arm rest; FIGURE 4 is afragmentary view on an enlarged scale of a portion of the arm restillustrated in FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 55 of FIGURE 3, the coverof the arm rest being shown in its open position.

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary detailed view on an en larged scale of aportion of FIGURE 5.

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary detailed view of a portion of FIGURE 5 on anenlarged scale with the cover of the arm rest being in its closedposition with the snap-catch locked;

FIGURE 8 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale taken on the line 88of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 9 is a view similar to FIGURE 4 with the associated front coverportion being in a partially open position thereof;

FIGURE 10 is a fragmentary view of the auxiliary storage compartmentwith the cover being shown in entirely open condition;

FIGURE 11 is a perspective view of the arm rest of the present inventionshowing the latter when utilized as a portable storage unit;

FIGURE 12 is a fragmentary detailed view, on an enlarged scale, of theportion of the arm rest indicated by the arrow 12 in FIGURE 2, with thecover being shown in partially open condition.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, there is illustrated an armrest 20 pursuant to the present invention. The arm rest, as here showncomprises :a body or receptacle 22 and an associated cover 24. Thereceptacle and the cover are interconnected by an integral hinge 26,said elements being formed of a suitable plastic, as for Patented Sept.17, 1963 2 example polypropylene and forming a single unit fabricated bya single suitable moulding operation.

The receptacle 22 is provided with a planar rear wall 28 and with ashaped front wall 3! The front wall 30 has a lower portion 32 whichtapers downwardly and inwardly toward the base 34 of the receptacle 22.The front wall 30 is provided also with an upper wall portion 36 whichis of generally arcuate conformation and which projects upwardly andlaterally from the lower front wall portion 32. The receptacle isprovided also with the opposing side walls 38 and 40 which interconnectthe end walls 28 and 3t). The receptacle 22 is provided with an integraltransverse partition 42 which extends between the opposing side walls 38and 40 along the shoulder 44 defined by the common boundary of the lowerand upper portions 32 and 36 respectively of the front wall 30.

As best seen in FIGURE 3, the rear wall 28 and the opposing partition 42and lower front wall portion 32, as well as the opposing portions of theside walls 38 and 40 which extend from the partition and lower frontwall portion to the rear wall 28 define a main storage compartment 44,the bottom of which is defined by the base 34. An auxiliary storagecompartment is defined by the upper front wall portion 36, the partitionmember 42 and the associated portions of the side walls 38 and 40. Thereceptacle 22 is provided also at its upper open end with a peripheralflange 48 and with the rim 50 which extends upwardly from the flange 48.The flange 48 is interrupted substantially centrally of the side wall 38to provide between the opposing flange ends an inverted U-shaped support56 formed between a pair of spaced detents or locking elements 58. Anadditional detent or locking element 60 is formed on the rim 50 abovethe upper front wall portion 36. Said front wall portion 36 is providedon its upper or inner surface with a detent 62 as best seen in FIGURE 3which is associated with a pair of laterally spaced vertically extendingprojections 64 provided on the inner surface of the side wall 40 at theauxiliary storage compartment 46, as best seen in FIGURE 10, and with asimilar pair of integral vertical projections formed on the opposinginner surface portion of the side wall 38. The companion projections 64define a slot 66 therebetween which is adapted to receive a removablepartition member 68 for dividing the auxiliary storage compartment 46into a front storage compartment 70 and a rear storage compartment 72.As best seen in FIGURE 3, it will be noted that the removable partitionmember 68, which can be formed of any suitable material, extends fromthe slot 66 provided on the inner surface of the side wall 40 to asimilar slot 66 provided in opposition on the inner surface of the sidewall 38 and is engaged along its bottom by the detent 62 provided on theupper or inner surface of the upper front end wall portion 36. It willbe understood that the removable partition 68 may be readily insertedinto the slots from a position thereabove by moving the partition memberdownwardly into the slots as indicated by the arrow 74 in FIGURE 10. Theside edges of the partition may be advantageously lapsed for thispurpose.

The bottom wall or base 34 is inwardly or upwardly offset as at 76 toprovide an inner peripheral recess 78, the latter being provided with apair of opposed inwardly extending recesses 80, as best seen in FIGURE8, adjacent the rear end wall 28. The recesses as are adapted toremovably receive the inturned ends 82 of a U-shaped preferably wiremember 84, the function of which will presently appear. 'In addition tothe previously mentioned inverted U- shaped support 56, provision ismade for a companion opposing inverted U-shaped support 86 provided onthe outer surface of the side walls 4-6 as best seen in FIGURE 3. Itwill be understood that the companion invented U-shaped supports 56 and86 are adapted to be removably releasably engaged by the inturned ends82 of the wire member 84 as hereinafter explained in detail.

The previously mentioned cover 24 for the body of receptacle 22 isprovided with a main cover portion 83 for the main storage compartment44 and with an auriliary cover portion 90 for the auxiliary storagecornpa'rtment 46. Said main and auxiliary cover portions are connectedby an integral hinge 92 as best seen in FIG- URE 9. Said integral hinge92 permits the auxiliary cover 96 to be moved to its open position whenthe main cover portion 88 is in its closed position. The cover 24 isprovided with a peripheral rim 94- which is adapted to overlie thepreviously mentioned rim 51 provided on the receptacle. The previouslymentioned integral hinge 26 interconnects the rim 94 at the main coverportion 88 and the flange 58 at the main storage compartment 44, as bestshown in FIGURE 6. On its inner surface adjacent the hinge 92 the maincover portion 83 is provided with a transverse partition member 96 whichis integral therewith and which is adapted to engage the upper marginaledge of the fixed or integral partition member 42 provided in receptacle22 when the main cover portion 83 is in its closed position as bestshown in FIGURES 3 and 9. Said engagement of the integral partitionmembers provides assurance that the main storage compartment 44 iscompletely enclosed when the main cover portion 88 is in its closedposition and when the auxiliary portion 99 is in its open position asbest shown in FIG- URE 9. The main cover portion 88 is provided also onits inner surface with a pencil or pen holding means and with a paper orpad holding means. More specifically, adjacent the partition 96 the maincover portion is provided with a pair of aligned projections 98 and witha laterally offset intermediate projection 1106. Adapted to releasablyretain a pencil 102 or the like in position on the inner surface of thecover portion 83 as best shown in FIGURES l and 3. It will be understoodthat the pencil 102 may be inserted into position between theprojections 98 and 166 or removed therefrom by sliding the pencil alongthe inner surface of the main cover portion 88 as indicated by thearrows 104- in FIGURE .1. In order to hold a pad of paper 106 the maincover portion 88 is provided on its surface with the quadrilaterallyrelated projections 108 as best shown in FIGURE 1.

In order to releasably lock the main cover portion 88 in the closedcondition thereof, provision is made on the rim 94 thereof with anintegral projection 110 which is provided with a pair of laterallyspaced locking elements 112 which are adapted to releasably engage thepreviously mentioned detent elements 58 as best shown in FIGURES 7 and12. The main cover portion 88 is provided also on its inner surface witha pair of projections 114 which straddle the previously mentionedprojection 110, as best shown in FIGURES 1 and 7. The projections 114are each provided with a cam-ming edge 116 which is adapted to engagethe upper end of the rim 50 provided on the receptacle 22 when the maincover portion 88 is in the closed position thereof, as best seen inFIGURE 7. In order to open the main cover portion 88 inward pressure orforce is applied to the side wall 38 immediately below the invertedU-shaped support 56 thereof so as to disengage the detents 58 from theirsnap-engagement with the associated locking elements 112. Said inwardpressure in addition to effecting said disengagement urges the adjacentrim portions 50 against the associated camrning edges 116 of theprojections 114 so as to cam the main cover portion 88 to efiect a snapdisengagement of the locking elements 112 from the detents 58 so as toprovide a substantially instantaneous movement of the cover to the openposition thereof indicated in FIGURE 12. As previously indicated, theauxiliary cover portion 90 may be opened independently of the main coverportion 88 when the latter is in the closed condition thereof so as toobtain access to the auxiliary compartment 46. In

order to releasably lock the auxiliary cover in the closed conditionthereof provision is made for the previously mentioned detent element 60integrally provided on the rim 50 above the upper end wall portion 36.The detent portion 60 is adapted to be releasably engaged by acooperating locking element 118 provided on the cover rim 94 above theend wall 28. FIGURE 4 illustrates the locking element 118 engaged by thedetent 60. In order to open the auxiliary cover when it is in closed orlocked condition, provision is made for a fingerpiece which is providedon the outer surface of the cover rim 94 in opposition to the lockingelement 118. It will be readily apparent by raising the fingerpiece 120,the cover 90 for the auxiliary compartment 26 may be disengaged from itsclosed or locked position.

In order to mount or position the arm. rest 20 in operative positionthereof on the seat of an automobile or the like, the wire member orhandle 84 is inserted into the bottom recesses 86 of the arm rest 20 asshown in FIG- URE 2. The base 34 is disposed on the seat 122 of theautomobile and the rear end wall 28 is disposed in abutment with theback rest .124 of the seat 122. The wire member 84 is inserted betweenthe back rest and the seat as indicated in FIGURE 2 so as to releasablysecure the arm rest 20 in position. It will be readily apparent that thearm rest 20 may be adjusted laterally of the seat 122 into any desiredposition. When the arm rest is disposed as illustrated in FIGURE 2, withthe cover 24 closed, the arm rest is well suited to serve its functionas an arm rest. Without disturbing the function of the unit 20 as an armrest, access may be readily had to the auxiliary storage compartment 46or to the sub-compartments 70 and 72 thereof by merely opening theauxiliary cover 90. This is illustrated in the dotted line position ofthe auxiliary cover in FIGURE 2, it being noted that the main cover 88remains closed. However, when it is desired to obtain access to the mainstorage compartment 44, the cover 88 is opened, as previously indicatedby pressing inwardly on the side wall 38 below the inverted support 56.In addition to its prescribed function as a stationary arm rest andstationary storage compartment, the arm rest 20 may also be utilized asa portable storage compartment. This is accomplished merely bydisengaging the ends 82 of the handle 84 from the enclosures 80 in whichthey are engaged in the condition of the unit 20 illustrated in FIGURE 2and inserting said ends 82 into the inverted U-shaped supports 56 and 86as best illustrated in FIGURE 11. In this position of the member 84 thelatter functions as a handle to carry the unit 20 as may be desired.

In view of the foregoing, it will be apparent that pursuant to thepresent invention there has been provided a highly novel and efficientunit 20 which may serve either as an arm rest or as a stationary storagecompartment in an automobile or the like or which may be utilized as aportable storage compartment when so desired. The unit may be readilyand inexpensively manufactured by molding from a suitable plastic suchas polypropylene to pro vide an integral unit which includes the hinges26 and 92 both of which will actually grow stronger with use by reasonof increased molecular orientation, so as to provide a long-lived andefiicient article of manufacture.

I have here shown and described a preferred embodiment of my invention.It will be apparent, however, that this invention is not limited to thisembodiment, and that many changes, additions and modifications can bemade in connection therewith without departing from the spirit and scopeof the invention as herein disclosed and hereinafter claimed.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent is:

1. An arm rest for a seat having a back rest, said arm rest comprisingreceptacle means defined by a base,

a substantially planar rear end wall and a shaped front end wallextending upwardly from said base, and

opposing side walls interconnecting said end walls,

said shaped front wall having a lower portion which tapers inwardly tosaid base and an upper portion which projects laterally outwardly fromsaid lower portion and defines a transverse shoulder therewith,

a partition member extending along said shoulder to define a mainstorage compartment with said rear wall and an auxiliary storagecompartment with said front wall,

a cover for said main compartment, said cover being hinged to one ofsaid side walls, and

a cover for said auxiliary compartment hinged to said main cover.

2. An arm rest as in claim 1, said base, end walls, side walls,partition member, and covers being in integral relation.

3. An arm rest as in claim 2, and means extending from said receptaclemeans rearwardly of said rear end wall for insertion between the seatand arm rest.

4. An arm rest as in claim 3, said extending means being releasablyengageable with said receptacle means and comprising handle meansadditionally releasably engageable with said receptacle means to extendupwardly thereof.

5. An rest as in claim 1, and a removable partition member for saidauxiliary compartment. 7

6. An arm rest as in claim 3, and means releasably engag'eable with saidarm rest adjacent to said planar end wall.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS398,669 Starkey Feb. 26, 1889 2,667,392 Sexton Jan. 26, 1954 2,692,638Castell Oct. 26, 1954 2,720,208 Gellman Oct. 11, 1955 2,895,782 FragaleJuly 21, 1959 2,971,572 Watkins Feb. 14, 1961 3,043,354 Fitzgerald July10, 1962

1. AN ARM REST FOR A SEAT HAVING A BACK REST, SAID ARM REST COMPRISINGRECEPTACLE MEANS DEFINED BY A BASE, A SUBSTANTIALLY PLANAR REAR END WALLAND A SHAPED FRONT END WALL EXTENDING UPWARDLY FROM SAID BASE, ANDOPPOSING SIDE WALLS INTERCONNECTING SAID END WALLS, SAID SHAPED FRONTWALL HAVING A LOWER PORTION WHICH TAPERS INWARDLY TO SAID BASE AND ANUPPER PORTION WHICH PROJECTS LATERALLY OUTWARDLY FROM SAID LOWER PORTIONAND DEFINES A TRANSVERSE SHOULDER THEREWITH, A PARTITION MEMBEREXTENDING ALONG SAID SHOULDER TO DEFINE A MAIN STORAGE COMPARTMENT WITHSAID REAR WALL AND AN AUXILIARY STORAGE COMPARTMENT WITH SAID FRONTWALL, A COVER FOR SAID MAIN COMPARTMENT, SAID COVER BEING HINGED TO ONEOF SAID SIDE WALLS, AND A COVER FOR SAID AUXILIARY COMPARTMENT HINGED TOSAID MAIN COVER.